Subzero temperatures couldn't stop Hoosier physicians and medical students from coming together to advocate for their patients and the practice of medicine at the Indiana Statehouse.
On Jan. 16, around 90 ISMA members attended Physician Advocacy Day, which started at the Indiana State Library before moving to the Statehouse.
At the library, ISMA Vice President of Government Affairs John Ruckelshaus and Director of Policy and Government Affairs Luke McNamee, JD, gave attendees informational packets on key issues during the short legislative session -- such as prior authorization and scope of practice -- and an overview of the day.
Sen. Tyler Johnson, DO (R-Leo), an emergency medicine physician, also spoke with members and took questions at the library.
Sen. Johnson, whose bill to overhaul prior authorization has passed the Health and Provider Services Committee unanimously, discussed the best ways to approach legislators and stressed the importance of physicians getting involved in the legislative process.
“This job as a legislator is really about personal relationships,” Sen. Johnson said. “Physicians, having conversations with legislators, is a really important thing.”
Attendees then walked to the Statehouse, where ISMA members could meet with their legislators and connect with other lawmakers in leadership positions to discuss issues relevant to the practice of medicine.
Elizabeth Struble, MD, chair of the ISMA Commission on Legislation, said Physician Advocacy Day is an excellent way for physicians to get introduced to advocacy in a group setting, and agreed that establishing relationships with lawmakers is vital.
“Relationships are what makes things happen at the Statehouse,” Dr. Struble said. “(Advocacy Day) is one of the best ways en masse to start developing relationships, not only with legislators from our own districts but with key players at the Statehouse.”
More than a dozen legislators spoke with physicians and medical students, including Reps. Brad Barrett, MD (R-Richmond) and Rita Fleming, MD (D-Jeffersonville), and Sens. Michael Crider (R-Greenfield) and Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis. Also dropping by was Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who spoke with physicians and medical students and took photos with the group.
Sen. Crider, who authored last year’s law to strengthen and expand mental health services (SEA 1), said he specifically spoke with pediatricians at Advocacy Day, which reinforced work he’s pushing for in this year’s session. He recognized that physicians at the Statehouse were making sacrifices in their practice to attend, but expressed how important it was for physicians to work with their legislators.
“We need the expertise of the folks that are direct providers,” Sen. Crider said. “This building runs on relationships. If you have a trusting relationship with someone, whether through events like this or your local community, they call you. Their opinion is elevated over a bunch of letters you get in the mail. I think it’s really important for folks to take the time to come down.”
Many medical students, residents and fellows also attended Advocacy Day. ISMA Medical Student Society President Alissa Haas said she wanted to thank legislators for the increased GME funding allocated in the state budget last year, and felt it’s important that she and her fellow medical students get involved in advocacy before graduating.
“I think it’s really important for us to kind of get in on the ground level of advocacy and see what it’s about early so that as we progress in our career, we know what it’s about,” Haas said. “So, in 20 years, this isn’t new to me – I can kind of come in with confidence and talk to legislators about things that are important to me and important to our patients and the field of medicine in general.”
Don Selzer, MD, agreed that events like Physician Advocacy Day can make a massive difference in enhancing Hoosier health care.
“A handshake and looking somebody in the eye, I think, is the most important way of making a connection,” Dr. Selzer said. “Sharing real-life experiences with legislators (is vital), so they know how their decisions impact us and the Hoosiers we care for.”
